The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-05-19

Garland were among the early arrivals
and were seated to the left of Mrs.
Cleveland. The members of the Su-
preme Court of the United States came
in body. excepting Justices Wood and
Harlan, and were seated on the first
row on the left of the speakers stand.
Representatives Of the diplomatic
stand. At O'Clock Generals Sherman,
Sheridan and Rosecrans and Governor
Curtin arrived In carriage just after
the head of the procession made its ap-
pearance. They were soon followed
by President Cleveland, escorted by
General Anerson and Secretary and
Mrs. Fairchild, Col. and Mrs: Lamont,
Postmaster General Villas and Secretary
Lamar. Mrs. Cleveland came accom-
panied by Mrs. Folsom, Miss Bayard
and Miss Welsh. just after O'Clock
and took her seat beside the Presidents
chair. Ex-Secretary Window and Ex-
Secretary MacVeigh, Of Garfield's Cab
met, were among the guests present.
at lilo O'Clock the exercises opened
with prayer by Rev. DR.. Giesy. The
Marine band, surrounding the monu-
and, amid the clapping of hands, the
American flag enveiOping the statue
was dropped, and the great bronze
image stood exposed to the rays of the
midday sun. There was a short lull in
the proceedings, while battery of ar
tillery fired the national salute. Gen
eral Sheridan then introduced the oral
Keifer, who, on the part of the MOnu-
ment Committee, delivered an address
transferring the statue to General
Sheridan. At its conclusion Cen
eral Sheridan, on behalf of the Society,
transferred the statue to the President
in the following words: Mr.. President
This statue which has been unveiled in
your presence to-day, was erected by
the comrades of General Garfield, be-
land. They recognized his merit as
a soldier and they wished to pay some
testimony to that merit and to his
worth as a man. / have the honor, sir,
on behalf of the Society of the Army
of the Cumberland, to ask you as
representative of the American people,
to accept the statue from their hands
as it was given to me. tApplause.l
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
The President, who arose as General
Sheridan began speaking, then began
his address accepting the statue as a
gift to the nation. The speech was as
follows: Fellow citizens-In the per-
Torrance of the duty assigned to me on
this occasion, 1 hereby accept on behalf
of the people of the United States, this
complete and beautiful statue, amid
the interchange of fraternal greetings
between the survivors of the army of the
the battle field, and while the Union
General and the peoples President
awaited burial, the common grief
of these magnanimous survivors
and mourning citizens found expression
in a determination to erect this
tribute to American greatness, and
thus to-day, in its symmetry and beau
ty, it presents the sign that animosities
are forgotten, the emblem of brother
hood redeemed and the token of the
Nation restored. The monuments and
statues as they multiply throughout
the land fittingly illustrate the love
and affection of our grateful people and
concentrating brave and patriotic
sacrifices in war, fame in peaceful pur-
suits, or honor in public station. But
from this day forth there shall stand at
our seat of Government this statue of
a distinguished citizen, who in his life
and service combined all these things
and more which challenge admiration in
American character loving tenderness in
every domestic relation; bravery on the
field of battle, fame and distinction:in
our halls of legislation and the highest
honor and dignity in the chief magis-
tracy of the notion. This stately effigy
shall not fail to teach every beholder
that the source of American greatness
is confined to no condition nor depends
alone for it's growth and development
upon favorable surroundings. The
genius of our national life beckons
to the usefulness and honor
of those in every sphere
and offers the highest preferment to
manly hope and sturdy, honest effort,
chastened and constant by patriotic
hopes and aspirations. AS long as this
statue stands let it be proudly remem-
the way is open to fame and station
until he, moving up from high
to higher, becomes on fortunes
browning slope, the pillar of a peoples
hopes, the center of a worlds destiny.
Nor can we forget that it also teaches
our people sad and distressing lesson,
and the thoughtful citizen who views
its fair proportions cannot fail to recall
the tragedy of the death which brought
grief and mourning to every household
in the land. But while American cit
izenship stands aghast and affrighted
that murder and assassination should
lurk in the midst of free people and
strike down the head of their govern
ment, fearless search and discovery
of the hiding place of these hateful
and unnatural things should be fol-
lowed by solemn resolve to purge for
ever from our political methods and
from the operation of our govern
ment the perversions and mjsconcep-
tiOns which gave birth to passionate
and bloody thoughts. If from this
hour our admiration for the bravery
and nobility of American manhood and
our faith in the possibilities and oppor-
tunitles of American citizenship be re-
newed; if our appreciation of the
blessing of restored Union and love
for our government be strengthened,
and if our watchfulness against dan
gers in the mad chase after partisan
Spoils be quickened, the dedication of
this statue to the people of the Uunited
States will not be in vain.'
During the delivery of his address
the President was frequently interrupt
ed by Outbursts of applause. He spoke
f1uently, in a clear voice, which was
audible to most of the vast crowd that
he had concluded the band played
Hail Columbia, and Rev. F. d. Rover,
who was pastor of General Garfield s
Church in this city, pronounced the
benediction. The troops were then dis
missed, and the ceremonies came to an
end.
THE STATUE.
Inc SCdJuO, WHICH Is DTOHZ0s IL Lie
design of the sculptor, j. @. A. Ward,
who also designed the equestrian statue
of General Thomas in this city. 1t is
! 10 feet inches in height and represents
Garfield facing the West in the act of
delivering an address, with his right
hand resting on column and a
manuscript held in his left hand. The
pose of the figure and unconventional
recumbent ideal figures at each corner
of the triangular pedestal represent the
| student, the warrior and the states
man, typefying the three epochs in
General Garfie1d's career. The bronze
tablets above the figures bear a globe,
trumpet and sword and a laurel
wreath enclosing the scales of justice.
The inscriptions upon the shaft are
placed upon three sides, as follows:
southwest face James A. Garfield, 1881
1885," on the southeast face "Major
General, U. s. A., Member of Congress,
Senator, and President of the United
States Of America; IRON the north face:
Erected by His Comrades of the
Society of the Army of the Cumber-